Apple tree named &#39;wur37&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Apple tree named ‘WUR37’, characterized by its upright plant habit; vigorous growth habit; numerous fruit produced per plant; fruits with red-colored skin spotted with lenticels; resistance to Apple Scab; and suitability for organic farming practices.

Botanical designation: Malus domestica.

Cultivar denomination: ‘WUR37’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Appletree, botanically known as Malus domestica and hereinafter referred toby the name ‘WUR37’.

The new Apple tree is a product of a planned breeding program conductedby the Inventor in Elst, Gelderland, The Netherlands. The objective ofthe breeding program was to create new Apple trees that produce numerousred-colored fruits that are resistant to Apple Scab (Venturiainaequalis), a fungus, which causes severe surface blemishing of thefruit and are suitable for organic farming practices.

The new Apple tree originated from a cross-pollination conducted by theInventor in Elst, Gelderland, The Netherlands in 1993 of Malus domestica‘Elise’, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietaryselection of Malus domestica identified as code number 1984-015-017, notpatented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Apple tree wasdiscovered and selected by the Inventor as a single plant within theprogeny of the stated cross-pollination grown in a controlledenvironment in Elst, Gelderland, The Netherlands in 2005.

Asexual reproduction of the new Apple tree by grafting in a controlledenvironment in Elst, Gelderland, The Netherlands since 2006 has shownthat the unique features of this new Apple tree are stable andreproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new Apple tree has not been observed under all possible combinationsof environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype mayvary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such astemperature and light intensity, without, however, any variance ingenotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘WUR37’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘WUR37’ as a new and distinct Apple tree:

1. Upright plant habit.

2. Vigorous growth habit.

3. Numerous fruit produced per plant.

4. Fruits with red-colored skin spotted with lenticels.

5. Resistant to Apple Scab.

6. Suitable for organic farming practices.

The new Apple tree differs primarily from trees of the female parent,‘Elise’ in fruit color and Apple Scab resistance as trees ‘Elise’produce darker red-colored fruits than trees of the new Apple tree andtrees of ‘Elise’ are not resistant to Apple Scab. Additionally, trees ofthe new Apple are more suitable for organic farming practices than treesof the female parent selection.

The new Apple tree differs primarily from trees of the male parentselection in growth habit and fruit production as trees of the maleparent selection are less vigorous and produce less fruit per tree thantrees of the new Apple tree. Additionally, trees of the new Apple aremore suitable for organic farming practices than trees of the maleparent selection.

Plants of the new Malus can be compared to plants of Malus domestica‘WUR200’, disclosed in a U.S. Plant Patent application filed on Nov. 14,2015. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Elst, Gelderland, TheNetherlands, the new Apple tree differed primarily from trees of‘WUR200’ in the following characteristics:

1. Trees of the new Apple tree were more vigorous and more freelybranching than trees of ‘WUR200’.

2. Trees of the new Apple tree produced larger and heavier fruits thantrees of ‘WUR200’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of thenew Apple tree showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possibleto obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Apple tree.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of atypical tree of ‘WUR37’ grown in an outdoor orchard.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of typicalfruiting branch of ‘WUR37’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs, following observations and measurementsdescribe trees grown during the summer in Randwijk, Gelderland, TheNetherlands in an outdoor orchard and under cultural practices typicalof commercial Apple tree production. Trees were four years old when thephotographs and description were taken. Measurements and numericalvalues represent averages for typical trees and tree parts. The actualmeasurements of any individual tree or tree parts, or any group of treesor tree parts, of the new Apple tree may vary from the stated average.In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Malus domestica ‘WUR37’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Malus domestica ‘Elise’, not            patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Malus            domestica identified as code number 1984-015-017, not            patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—Typically by grafting onto a rootstock.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright plant habit and vigorous            growth habit.        -   Tree height.—About three meters.        -   Tree diameter.—About 80 cm to 150 cm.        -   Growth rate.—About 20 cm to 30 cm per year.        -   Trunk description.—Diameter: About 5 cm to 7 cm. Strength:            Strong. Texture: Slightly rough, woody. Color: Close to            200A.        -   Lateral branch description.—Length: About 40 cm to 70 cm.            Diameter: About 3 cm to 5 cm. Internode length: About 2 cm            to 4 cm. Strength: Strong, firm. Angle of attachment: About            80° from main trunk axis. Texture: Pubescent, woody. Color:            Close to 200A.        -   Leaf description.—Arrangement: Alternate; simple. Length:            About 7 cm to 10 cm. Width: About 3 cm to 5 cm. Shape:            Elliptic. Apex: Acute. Base: Cordate, blunt. Margin:            Serrate. Texture, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous. Texture,            lower surface: Rough, pubescent. Venation pattern: Pinnate.            Color: Developing and fully developed leaves, upper surface:            Close to 137A; venation, close to 146D. Developing and fully            developed leaves, lower surface: Close to 146A; venation,            close to 146D. Petioles: Length: About 5 cm to 9 cm.            Diameter: About 5 mm. Texture, upper and lower surfaces:            Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to            146D.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower type and flowering habit.—Single rotate flowers            arranged on panicles; freely flowering habit with about six            to ten flowers per inflorescence; flowers face mostly            outwardly.        -   Fragrance.—Faintly fragrant, pleasant.        -   Natural flowering season.—Continuously flowering in April            and May in The Netherlands.        -   Flower longevity.—Flowers last about two weeks on the plant;            flowers not persistent.        -   Inflorescence height.—About 3 cm to 5 cm.        -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 3 cm to 5 cm.        -   Flower diameter.—About 2 cm to 3 cm.        -   Flower depth (height).—About 5 mm to 10 mm.        -   Flower buds.—Shape: Oval to rounded. Length: About 1 cm to            2 cm. Diameter: About 1 cm to 1.5 cm. Texture: Smooth,            glabrous. Color: Close to 67A.        -   Petals.—Quantity and arrangement: Typically five in a single            whorl; slightly imbricate. Length: About 1 cm to 1.5 cm.            Width: About 5 mm to 10 mm. Shape: Obovate to elliptic.            Apex: Obtuse. Base: Cordate. Margin: Entire; slightly            undulate. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,            glabrous. Luster, upper and lower surfaces: Matte, satiny.            Color: When opening and fully opened, upper surface: Close            to 155C tinged with close to 64D. When opening and fully            opened, lower surface: Close to 155C flushed with close to            67A.        -   Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: Typically five in a single            whorl. Length: About 5 mm to 7 mm. Width: About 3 mm to            5 mm. Shape: Ovate to somewhat deltoid. Apex: Acute to            obtuse. Base: Cordate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and            lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper and lower            surfaces: Close to 147C; towards the apex and base, tinged            with close to 187A.        -   Pedicels.—Length: About 3 cm to 5 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm            to 4 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Aspect: About 60° to            90° from stem. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to            147C with spots, close to 187A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity: About 20 per flower.            Filament length: About 2 cm. Filament color: Close to 155C.            Anther length: About 3 mm to 5 mm. Anther shape: Bi-lobed.            Anther color: Close to 17A. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen            color: Close to 158A. Pistils: Quantity: About five per            flower. Pistil length: About 1.5 cm. Stigma shape:            Trumpet-shaped. Stigma color: Close to 154A. Style length:            Less than 1 cm. Style color: Close to 150A. Ovary color:            Close to 144A.-   Fruit description:    -   -   Ripening time.—About 160 to 170 days.        -   Yield.—Higher than average.        -   Use.—Fresh market.        -   Length.—About 7 cm to 8 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 8.5 cm to 9 cm.        -   Fruit weight.—Typically individual fruits will weigh between            200 to 250 gr depending on environmental conditions.        -   General shape in profile.—Obloid.        -   Depth of eye basin.—Medium, about 1.2 cm.        -   Width of eye basin.—Medium, about 3 cm.        -   Fruit stalk length.—Medium to long.        -   Fruit stalk diameter.—About 2 mm.        -   Fruit stalk color.—Close to 176A.        -   Fruit skin color.—Ground color, close to 7A, overlain with            close to 47A; at harvest, almost all of the fruit skin is            red in color.        -   Lenticels.—Quantity: Numerous, about 10 per square inch.            Length: About 2 mm to 3 mm. Color: Close to 153A.        -   Flesh texture.—Firm, compact.        -   Flesh color.—Close to 11A.        -   Flavor.—Rich, aromatic.        -   Locules.—Quantity per fruit: About five. Length: About            1.5 cm. Width: About 5 mm to 10 mm. Shape: Ovate.        -   Seeds.—Quantity per locule: None to about three depending on            environmental conditions. Length: About 5 mm to 7 mm.            Diameter: About 3 mm to 5 mm. Shape: Obovate to elliptic.            Color: Close to 200A.-   Temperature tolerance: The new Apple tree has been observed to    tolerate temperatures ranging from about −20° C. to about 35° C.-   Pathogen & pest resistance: Trees of the new Apple have been    observed to be resistant to Apple Scab (Venturia inaequalis). Trees    of the new Apple have not been observed to be resistant to pests and    other pathogens common to Apple trees.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Apple tree named ‘WUR37’ asillustrated and described.